There are several reasons: student clubs and organisations, cheap meals at the university, up to 50% discount on trains, affordable health services, free legal counselling, van rentals, board game loans… If you want to learn more, keep on reading.
TREY is an organisation that works for Tampere University’s students’ best interests. It operates on the three campuses of our University (City centre, Hervanta and Kauppi campus). All Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students at Tampere University are members of TREY’s student union, which translates into 18,000 members.
The membership fee for the whole academic year is 114 € (57€ per the semester if paid individually). These membership fees allow the Student Union to offer various services to its members. Student advocacy is the most comprehensive of these services, as it encompasses the entire organisation and all its operations. The membership also entitles to discounts on local and national transportation, student-friendly priced lunches, health care services, van rentals, free legal counselling and boardgame loans, among others. If you are a PhD student, these fees and services vary, you may learn more about it here.
Student Card
The student card is the official proof of your student status and gives you access to discounts in student canteens, public transport, restaurants, bars and shops, not only in Tampere but all across Finland, as well as online. You can order the traditional plastic student card, a digital one, or both. The plastic one has a cost of 10€ and it also works as a library and key card that provides access to university facilities, including electronic exam rooms.
Bear in mind that most student cards, including ISIC card and other international student cards, do not entitle you to the student discounts on trains (VR), buses (Matkahuolto), student meals and healthcare services (FSHS) that most students in Finland enjoy.
Transportation
Holders of a Finnish student card get a 30 % discount when travelling on long-distance trains and 50% discount when travelling on commuter trains. Matkahuolto also offers discounts on bus tickets around Finland. In Tampere, Nysse offers student a discount on a single bus tickets and 30-day- season tickets.
Student Dining
One of the most popular benefits of being a student in Finland are the affordable lunches at the university’s restaurants. There are several student restaurants that serve lunches at student-friendly prices. For each meal, the Finnish government pays a subsidy of 1.94€. The final prices vary according to the meal type you choose, but normally student meals cost 2.60€. It includes a main dish, a side salad, a drink (milk or juice) and bread.
The listing of student restaurants in Tampere can be found here.
P.S. As a student you are entitled to the student discount in all the meal subsidised student restaurants across Finland. When you travel around, it is always worth checking where the nearest student restaurant is!
The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS)
The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) offers affordable health and medical services to students at health centres across Finland. If you are a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree student at Tampere University or TAMK, and you have paid your Student Union membership fee, you have the right to access the general, mental and oral health care services provided by FSHS throughout your studies. The majority of health services provided by FSHS are included in your TREY membership fee.
Sport facilities
SportUni provides students and staff of Tampere University with varied and inexpensive sports services on the three campuses. Additionally, SportUni offers a selection of services aimed at improving student well-being. The fee for the whole academic year is 75€, 44€ for the autumn semester and 49€ for the spring semester if paid individually.
Legal counselling
The members of TREY are entitled to free legal counselling from the law firm Magnusson Law. The counselling is available by informing the law firm that you are a member of TREY’s student union.
Other services provided by the student union
Power drill and toolbox
You can borrow a toolbox or a power drill from TREY’s service office on the City centre campus (20€ deposit).
Baseball and kyykkä sets
TREY rents baseball and two kyykkä sets for a 5€ maintenance cost. You can pick them up from union’s offices during the opening hours.
Vans and trailer
The student union, together with Tampereen Teekkarien Moottorikerho, rents two vans for an affordable price and also a trailer, the latter one only being available from Hervanta Campus (a category B driver’s license or a foreign driver’s license approved by the Finnish police is always required).
Clubs and Organisations
TREY has over 160 advocacy, student and recreational associations. Being a student union member is a pre-requirement in order to be part of any of these associations. If you are interested in making the most of your student life, this is a must! You can find a list of them in this link.
TREY’s newsletter
TREY sends weekly newsletters in English and Finnish to keep students updated about everything important for us as students and members of the student union. You can learn more here.
Other student discounts
In addition, many shops, restaurants and companies in Tampere and in Finland offer considerable discounts to students, remember to ask about it before you pay! Moreover, Opiskelijan Tampere has made up local deals for students in Tampere, check their webpage to learn more.
– Mónica
